The project, presented by a European partnership with AdIM as leader, passed the Commission's scrutiny with a score of 95/100 and will be financed from EU resources.
“BAG-Bringing skills and knowledge into sustainable tourism” will have a duration of 18 months starting from 6 October 2025 and until April 2027.
Programming scope: Erasmus+ and community policies
Erasmus+ is the European Union program in the field of education, of training, of youth and sport for the period 2021-2027, which presents the environment and the fight against climate change among its priorities.
To cope with climate change, The EU strategy is aimed at promoting environmental protection and recognizes the central role played by schools, training institutes and universities, sector operators, in disseminating knowledge on the climate crisis and sustainability. The Erasmus+ program is therefore a key tool for developing skills and attitudes regarding climate change and for supporting sustainable development, both in the European Union and in the rest of the world.
Nature of the project
The project “BAG – Bringing Skills and Knowledge into Sustainable Tourism” is a strategic initiative funded under the Erasmus+ programme, specifically under the Key Action KA210-VET, which identifies small-scale Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training.
This type of action is aimed at supporting cooperation between organizations for the development of innovative practices and the exchange of experiences in the sector of vocational education and training (VET).
The management and coordination of the project are entrusted to AdIM Srl, an organization based in Naples, in Italy.
To support this initiative, Two key organizations are part of the partnership: l'Agenzia Internazionale NEWPROJECT dalla Spagna e CROATIAN OFFICE FOR CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION dalla Croazia.
The choice of these partners is not random, but it reflects a precise strategy: all three countries – Italy, Spain and Croatia – are Mediterranean nations with a significant tourism industry, often characterized by coastal and cultural sites of great appeal, but also by common challenges related to sustainability, such as tourist overcrowding, waste management, pollution and income inequality.
The Project in Summary
The BAG project aims to promote a culture of environmental sustainability in the tourism sector, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal and with the need to adapt Vocational Education and Training (VET) to the changed needs of an increasingly oriented labor market “verde”.
The main objectives of the project are multiple and interconnected:
● Raise awareness of the impact of tourism among VET students and young workers.
● Define specific strategic skills for sustainable tourism management.
● Design a training module (“modulo BAG”) of European importance.
● Create a European network for the continuous sharing of experiences and the promotion of new collaborations in sustainable tourism.
There are three key results expected from the project:
● A digital brochure that collects the best practices of sustainable tourism, with a focus on the human capital involved.
● A practical training module, designed for the acquisition of strategic skills in sustainable tourism.
● A dynamic virtual community, which serves as a meeting point for sustainable tourism professionals across Europe.
The project aligns strategically with the priorities of the European Union:
● Horizontal Priority: Environment and fight against climate change: The project directly contributes to the culture of environmental sustainability in the framework of the European Green Deal. It aims to reduce the environmental impact of economic activities in tourism, promoting knowledge and behaviors “verdi” among all stakeholders. Through the involvement of different target groups, the project will increase awareness of the impact of tourism and the importance of individual and professional choices for a more sustainable economy.
● VET priorities: Adapt vocational education and training to the needs of the labor market: The project supports VET students in acquiring a global and intercultural mentality, which includes professional and key skills, to respond to the needs of the labor market, considering the green transition of tourism. It defines strategic skills and aims to enrich the VET offer with transnational contents.
The Planning Ideas and Development Area
The central idea of the BAG project is to support VET students in the tourism sector in acquiring a global and intercultural mentality, integrating professional skills, working methods and key skills to meet the needs of a labor market in transition towards sustainability.
The main development areas on which the project focuses are the following:
● Specific Skills: The project aims to define and promote strategic skills in the field of sustainability and tourism management. This includes preparation for emerging roles as an environmental guide, community manager e green manager.
● Training Module “BAG”: A training module on sustainable tourism of European relevance will be designed. It will be a free-to-access online resource, including theoretical content, practical activities and guidelines for carrying out project work.
● European Network: this network is designed to ensure continuity in sharing experiences, stimulate new cooperation and facilitate mobility between countries. It will mainly be promoted through a virtual community. The virtual community is conceived not only as a communication tool, but as a “result of the project” and one “strategy for the sustainability of the project and its results”.
The project's approach to achieving these objectives is divided into different phases:
● Identification of existing best practices in sustainable tourism in each partner country.
● Conducting comparative research to identify key drivers and strategic competencies.
● Development of a training module based on these findings.
● Stimulation of dialogue between host communities and sharing of practices to combat environmental impact.
Strategic Objectives: Our Purpose for Impact
The BAG project pursues a series of well-defined strategic objectives, each of which contributes significantly to its overall vision of more sustainable tourism and VET more aligned with market needs.
The philosophy behind the project places crucial emphasis on the role of human capital.
It's not just about implementing green practices or green technologies, but to enhance knowledge, habits, people's motivation and skills as fundamental drivers for the success of sustainable tourism practices.
This approach recognizes that sustainability in tourism is not solely an infrastructural or technological issue, but it is deeply rooted in the behaviors and attitudes of individuals - tourists, local communities and sector professionals.
In summary, the BAG project is not just a training initiative, but a model for innovation in sustainable tourism, capable of generating a significant impact on VET, on youth employability and the promotion of ecologically and socially responsible practices in Europe
